Pendle Way
The Pendle Way is a 72 km circular route around the countryside associated with the 1612 Pendle witch trials in Lancashire — linking Pendle Hill, Barrowford, Newchurch-in-Pendle and the Ribble valley in a circuit of the South Pennine foothills.
This route has no official waymarking. Serious navigation experience is required — do not rely on GPS alone. Carry OS 1:25,000 maps and study the line before you go.
About Pendle Way
The Pendle Way makes a complete circuit of the countryside associated with the Pendle witch trials of 1612 — the most famous episode in Lancashire's history. Pendle Hill (557 m) is the dominant feature; the route circles it visiting the villages whose inhabitants were implicated in the trials: Newchurch-in-Pendle, Roughlee, Barrowford and Downham.
For trail runners it is a one to two day challenge on good South Pennine terrain. The Pendle Hill summit section is the most demanding — a steep pull to an exposed moorland top. The rest of the circuit is pleasant valley and foothill running.
The route
From Barrowford or Clitheroe: the circuit visits the key witch-trial locations in a clockwise loop. Pendle Hill summit is the high point; the Ribble valley sections the lowest. The route is well-waymarked with a witch-on-broomstick symbol.
Getting there & logistics
Base: Clitheroe. Train from Blackburn (connections to Manchester and Preston).
Best time: Year-round.
Safety
Pendle Hill summit is exposed in bad weather. Good mobile signal for most of the route. In an emergency: call 999 or 112.
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